Latest News – October 10

Leadville’s November Ballot: “Very Interesting!”

Election Day 2017 is four weeks from today. So, it’s time to inform voters about what can expect to see on the ballot, as well as recent changes in voting equipment.

From the “swearing in,” to the “swearing at,” you too can become part of Leadville City government. Pictured here with Leadville Judge Neil Reynolds, then Leadville City Clerk Bethany Maher is sworn into office, only to be re-buffed later, due to a clerical oversight involving residency. To correct the situation, a newly established Deputy City Clerk was created by city officials. Maher currently serves in that position.

Registered voters should have received the election paperwork in the mail this week which contains summary statements for ballot propositions. Depending on where you live, voters will see different measures, as well as candidate options for the City of Leadville positions and Colorado Mountain College (CMC) Board of Trustees.

Leadville Today (LT) is going to break it down for readers, so that registered voters will be informed about the correct procedure in which to cast their ballot, so that it counts. Of course, when it comes to elections, LT turns to the local expert, Lake County Clerk and Recorder Patty Berger. It is her office that is charged to oversee the November 7 Election.

It might be easiest to break down this November’s election into two components: the City of Leadville and the Colorado Mountain College District (CMC).

And residency counts, explains Berger. If you’re in the county and a registered voter, then you will only be voting on Ballot Issue 4B which deals with a proposed tax increase; and you may also cast your vote for three candidates for the CMC Board of Trustees. Only one of those three Trustee positions has a challenger.

If you live within the City of Leadville and are a registered voter, then you’ll see the above mentioned measures and candidates, in addition to Ballot Issue 2A, which is a city tax measure. From there, it gets “very interesting,” stated Berger.

The first item on the city candidate’s ballot is pretty straight forward. The position of City Clerk has only one candidate running for the position: Rachelle Collins. One vote for the candidate secures the position.

The position of City Treasurer has two official write-in candidates: Tina Tekansik and Elsa Tharp. In this race, whoever gets the top number of write-in votes will win this position. So why aren’t their names on the ballot? According to Berger, whose office records all election transactions as part of a transparent democracy, Tharp had taken out a petition to run for City Treasurer in August, but was unable to secure the required 25 (valid) signatures to get on the ballot. The next step for interested candidates who do not meet this requirement is to become an official Write-In Candidate, which Tharp then choose to do. Tekansik choose to become a write-in candidate from the get-go, by-passing the petition process all together. All registered city voters can vote for the positions of City Clerk and Treasurer.

Now, it’s on to Leadville City Council. While it may look like there actually are no candidates-to-meet, the ballot actually presents a more complicated process to voters. For those new to the municipal process, each City Ward has two representatives to Leadville City Council. Presently 5 of the six council positions are up for grabs. However, only one city council candidate went through the petition process successfully to be put on the ballot. That was Jane Gowing, the only candidate from Ward One.

“I have never seen a ballot with only two candidates (Collins and Gowing) on it, and everyone else is a write-in,” stated Berger in an interview with Leadville Today. And she should know. Berger’s office has been running local and special elections under her direction for 22 years in Lake County, ever since she first took office as the Lake County Clerk and Recorder in January 1995.

So, here’s a line by line ballot breakdown, explaining why some positions have no candidates, while others have only one person listed, to what are Write-In Candidates and what do voters need to do procedurally to assure that their vote counts!? You’ve got questions, and LT has the answers!

Ward One:

Jane Gowing

Incumbent Jane Gowing was appointed to Leadville City Council in 2016. Gowing went through the petition process and secured the signatures required to have her name placed on the ballot. Gowing has no challengers, so one vote will secure her re-election.

Ward Two:

Four-year Term: Domenic Roti is the only official Write-In Candidate for the 4-year position in Ward Two. He did pull a petition, but did not secure the required 25 signatures to be put on the ballot. Roti then decided to become an official write-in for the position. In August 2017, Domenic Roti was appointed to the Ward Two position by city council and presently serves on council.

Domenic Roti

Two-year Term: There were no petitions or write-ins for this position. Therefore, according to Berger the representative currently seated on council in this position will remain until January 2018, where after Leadville City Council will attempt to fill seat by appointment.

It was also noted by Clerk Berger that Leadville resident Andrew Mention also pick up a petition to run in Ward Two. However, his petition was not returned and he decided not to be a write-in candidate.

Ward Three:

Two-year Term: Kevin Linebarger is the only official Write-In Candidate for the 2-year position in Ward Three.

Kevin Linebarger

He did pull a petition to get on the ballot, but did not secure the required 25 signatures to be put on the ballot. Linebarger then decided to become an official write-in for the position. In August 2017, Kevin Linebarger was appointed to the Ward Three position by city council and presently serves on council.

Four-year Term: There were no petitions or write-ins for this position. Therefore, this council seat as well, will be appointed by Leadville City Council in January 2018 after the current representative serves out their obligation.

Once you’ve decided how to vote, be sure to do it correctly, so that it counts. These are the rules for the Write-In Candidates, according to Berger:

They can only show people the list of write-in candidates if they ask.

They DO NOT publish the list of candidates and what positions they are running for.

They DO NOT leave a list of write-ins out on the table by the election judges for people stop review.

Voters can ONLY vote for the verified write-in candidates. Therefore, casting your vote for Mickey Mouse, Donald Duck or anyone else for that matter, will not count.

The adjudication process for write in candidates is done by the election judges, who ultimately determine the intent of the ballot. They determine whether or not write-in votes are legitimate.

Early Voting & Election Day

Mail-In Ballots will be arriving to registered voters starting next week. Remember, Colorado is one of only three states utilizing a vote-by-mail system for all elections. And that’s exactly how Clerk Berger hopes a majority of ballots are submitted. “Our hope is that people use the mail-in ballot that we’re mailing to them next week.”

Early Voting will be available Monday, Oct. 30 through Election Day: Tuesday, November 7. Early voting takes place at the Lake County Courthouse on weekdays from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Voters should know that early voting will be available on that Saturday, Nov. 4 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. This process will look a bit different to voters this year. In fact, describes Berger, “it’s all going to be paper.” Yes, it’s true in a world becoming forcibly “green,” Colorado’s new voting system creates a paper record of your ballot. In fact, when you bring in your ballot or after it’s mailed in, it will be scanned in for the adjudication process. If the write-in box was checked, does the name written match the official candidate’s? If any ballots are red-flagged through that scan process, the election judges will determine its validation. If it passes that test, then the scanned copy is printed and placed in a ballot box to be later counted by hand.

Election Day: Tuesday, Nov. 7 voting polls will be open from 7 a.m.to 7 p.m. at the courthouse. Pictured ID required. However, for those who prefer to vote the day of, Berger explained that they also will see new election equipment in place at the courthouse. That’s right, if the ballot isn’t confusing enough, Lake County was among the 54 of the state’s 64 counties that converted to new election machines! The Dominion Voting Systems Democracy Suite 4.19 System allows voters to cast their ballot electronically, only to have them print a copy of their ballot afterward and place it in an old-school ballot box, to be counted by hand by the election judges when the election is officially complete. Be advised there will only be ONE of these new machines available on Election Day, so depending on turn-out you could see a line.

“Everything about the November 7 election is different,” stated Berger, to which she encouraged voters to “mail-it-in!”

Leadville Today will continue to update this political roundup story, as we hear from candidate and residents on the issues. You may connect on social media via LT’s Twitter and Facebook social media platforms. Letters will also be CONSIDERED for publication at info@leadvilletoday.com.

Colorado Senator Kerry Donovan helped push the bill through during the 2017 Legislature.

In other Political News, State Senator Kerry Donovan has kicked off her re-election “Listening Tour,” with a stop planned in Lake County this Thursday, Oct. 12 from 5-7 p.m. @ Periodic Brewing, located at 115 E. 7th Street. It might be noteworthy to constituents that during the 2017 session Donovan’s political focus included: “strengthening our rural economy, finding common sense solutions to healthcare issues, expanding access to broadband, and holding the government accountable.” She will be available for discussion on Thursday at the local brew pub.